Old Host Takes a Stand Against CBS

David Letterman has publicly accused CBS executives of lying about why Stephen Colbert’s late‑night show was cancelled. He said the decision was not driven by money but by political pressure linked to a $8 billion merger with Skydance. Letterman called the network’s leaders “lying weasels” in an interview with The New York Times. He added that the owners of CBS had promised a potential buyer that Colbert would not be a problem, and then abruptly pulled the show when the deal was finalized. “We’re just going to throw that into the deal, ” Letterman said, and he is certain CBS is not being truthful. Colbert had taken over the “Late Show” after Letterman stepped down, and his tenure ended this month. CBS had earlier said the cancellation was a “purely financial decision” made because of the difficult climate for late‑night programming. Letterman disagreed, saying he was shocked and asked himself what the network had done to Colbert.He compared the situation to driving past a familiar street that suddenly has an adult store, indicating he felt the change was abrupt and inappropriate. Letterman also admitted that late‑night shows are struggling overall, but he would be surprised if many could survive much longer. The network’s move came while its parent company, Paramount, was negotiating a merger with Skydance. Some observers think the cancellation might have been intended to satisfy political interests, possibly even President Trump’s administration. Letterman expressed disbelief at the reasoning behind the decision and criticized CBS for hiding its true motives.